US golfing legend given exemption by R&A so he can mark his 40th Open
anniverary at St Andrews

When Tom Watson walked across the Swilcan Bridge in 2010 there were tears in his eyes at the thought that it would be his last Open at St Andrews. He need not have worried. The R&A were to show their oft-hidden sentimental side.

The golfing burghers who preside in that grand clubhouse overlooking that 18th hole do not change their rules lightly, but even they could not resist allowing Watson to bow out at the Home of Golf in 2015. So they extended Watson’s exemption another year.

Past Open champions qualify until they are 60, but the R&A were first forced to rip up their regulations in 2009 when, as a 59-year-old, Watson seemed certain to tie Harry Vardon’s record collection of six Claret Jugs.

Stewart Cink was to deny him at Turnberry, but in the aftermath the R&A brought in a new stipulation which granted past Open champions five more years if they finished in the top 10 and if it is past their 60th birthday.

That meant Watson finishing at Hoylake this year. But knowing that 2015 would be Watson’s 40th anniversary, and knowing that one of his great disappointments was that none of his five wins in the The Open came at St Andrews, they relented and announced this very popular decision yesterday.

Watson was appropriately touched although, typical of the competitor, he raised the possibility of him earning yet another five years.

“I appreciate the R&A more than you know,” Watson said.

“It’s very special to be able to finish out my career – unless I finish in the top 10. If not, that’s the place I want to finish my career, in the Open, 40 years from the first time I played.

"Thinking that was going to be my last time walking across the Swilcan Bridge [in 2010] was a sad time. If everything works out, it allows me to go across that old stone bridge on the 18th again. I’ll drag myself there.”

Before then, Watson will captain the US in the Ryder Cup against Europe at Gleneagles.

Following Tiger Woods' comeback at the Quicken Loans National in Congressional last week, Watson reiterated his desire to have the 14-time major champion in the Highlands.

Having missed more than three months after his back surgery, Woods appears to have little hope of securing one of the nine automatic berths. However, he will command a wild card should he fulfil two criteria.

“I’m delighted to see Tiger back,” Watson said of Woods, who missed the cut at Congressional.

“I hope he’s healthy and not in pain. As I’ve said, I want him on the Ryder Cup team if he’s healthy and playing well.”

The R&A also used Watson’s press conference at this week’s Greenbrier Classic to confirm that the Opens of 2017 and 2018 will be held at Royal Birkdale and Carnoustie respectively.

The governing body is expected to announce that Portrush will stage the 2019 championship, after inviting the Northern Ireland club back on to the rota earlier this month.

In Open qualifying, Matt Fitzpatrick, last year’s US Amateur champion who recently turned professional, failed to earn one of the 12 Hoylake berths on offer to more than 280 competitors at four courses – Fitzpatrick shot 73-75 at Hillside – but there were other British success stories, including the European Tour pros Marc Warren, Oliver Fisher and James McLeary.